By the age of 20, not many people can claim that they have survived cancer or gotten a racecar. As it turns out, Le Moyne junior Katelyn Kane has done both.
A mathematics and economics double major with a concentration in actuarial science and a minor in accounting, Kane somehow finds a way to divide her time between academics and racing on the dirt track.
“It’s hard sometimes,” Kane said. “I don’t relax ever.”
Despite such difficulties, it’s clear Kane’s time management is paying off. She’s won several academic awards at Le Moyne, including the Frank T. Dolan Award for Liberal Arts and the William L. Lucas Award for Mathematics, and she’s made the Dean’s list every semester.
As for racing, Kane finally qualified for and placed second in the Fulton Outlaw 200 just a few weeks ago. This in particular was a welcome experience; back in May, at the start of the racing season, Kane got off to a rough start.
“I had a tough beginning of the season,” Kane said. “I felt like I had a target on me the whole time, so the Fulton Outlaw 200 was the closing I needed.”
Kane has been a racing aficionado her entire life, learning how to drive both a regular car and a racecar at the age of 16. She recalls that her grandparents kept a racecar for a friend when she was very little.
“I kept saying to my grandparents, ‘I wanna race like him!’” Kane said. “Later, when I got sick, as an incentive, they promised to buy me a racecar at the end of treatment. I own three racecars now.”
Being diagnosed with cancer at the age of 13 was, not surprisingly, a bit of a setback for Kane. After a few years of treatment, she was back on her feet almost immediately.
“I finished treatment in April 2007 and I started racing in May that same year,” Kane said. She has been racing ever since and plans to keep doing so “as long as my budget allows me.”
Although Kane has a fairly full plate on her hands, she also manages to take time for other things including snowmobiling in the winter, an informal internship at Mutual of Omaha, summer classes and the occasional golf outing.
Kane has her own Facebook fan page (facebook.com/katelynkaneracing2k) and has been featured in several news stories, including an article on hercampus.com and an upcoming piece for LCTV. Kane herself admits hers is not a typical life.
“Being a girl and racing? Not your average everyday thing,” Kane said.
Nonetheless, Kane hopes she can influence others to go after their own dreams and passions.
“I’d encourage everyone to reach for their goals, no matter what,” Kane added.
